Labor Laws & Money Blog

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling issued the following statement regarding the October 2026 Employment Situation Report:“The American labor market is the strongest it has been in more than half a century, and President Trump’s leadership continues to drive job growth in the United States as the unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% and we added 165,000 new jobs. Since the President took office, we have surpassed 1.25 million new private sector jobs and doubled the monthly breakeven rate.The manufacturing sector has added more than 100,000 jobs in 2026, including 19,000 in October. This historic growth is driven by trillions of dollars of domestic investment that President Trump has secured. Initial jobless claims fell to 189,000 last week, matching the lowest level recorded since 1969. We are now in the 10th consecutive month of manufacturing expansion, and the combination of reshored production, record investment, and the Working Families Tax Cuts is delivering economic security for the nation.”

WASHINGTON – The United States today announced the successful resolution of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) facility-specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) matter regarding the Alimentos Grole, S.A. de C.V. (Alimentos Grole or the company) facility in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico, where workers alleged they were previously denied their freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. The resolution is another win for the Trump Administration, whose America First approach ensures our trade partners do not undermine worker protections to gain an unfair trade advantage or attract investment.The United States and Mexico agreed on a course of remediation to address labor violations occurring at the facility, including the formation of a company-aligned internal labor committee and retaliatory dismissals of workers. That plan has now been implemented, and the denial of rights concerns raised in our request for review have been remediated. As a result, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has directed the Secretary of the Treasury to resume liquidation of unliquidated entries of goods from the facility.The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, USTR, and the Mexican government facilitated a resolution with Alimentos Grole to remediate workers’ claims.Actions taken by the facility to address the matter include:Reinstating nine unlawfully dismissed workers with full back pay and benefits and paying full severance to two workers, based on their respective preferences;Disbanding the company-aligned internal labor committee and ceasing and desisting from utilizing it or encouraging or supporting the formation of any such committee in the future;Developing a facility access protocol that allows the Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Industria Alimentaria, Mantenimiento Industrial, Similares y Conexos del Estado de Sonora (SITIES) to exercise its rights and perform its duties;Restructuring human resources and labor relations management, and taking appropriate disciplinary action against staff who violated workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights;Implementing and training all company personnel on its neutrality statement and guidelines related to freedom of association and collective bargaining, including a zero-tolerance policy for violations, and committing to retraining as needed;Informing workers about the denial of rights at the facility by conducting meetings and posting notices at the facility to acknowledge Alimentos Grole’s unlawful and interfering practices and affirm the company’s intention to respect workers’ rights in the future;Installing and publicizing a complaint mechanism through which workers can report violations of their rights and breaches of company policies anonymously and confidentially; andMaintaining on the company website and in any internal communications platform the neutrality statement and guidelines, collective bargaining agreement, training materials, and information about complaint mechanisms maintained by the company and Government of Mexico, such that the information is easily accessible to workers.Actions taken by the Government of Mexico to address the matter include:Monitoring the facility with regard to the obligations of the course of remediation and compliance with Mexican laws related to freedom of association and collective bargaining;Conducting in-person training that is structured to ensure all workers understand their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining and how to exercise it, including by informing workers of the denial of rights at the facility and educating workers on the conciliation process available to any dismissed worker;Conducting separate workers’ rights training for supervisors, human resources and labor relations personnel, and other high-level and “trusted” officials; andMaintaining a direct email address, reporting platform, and telephone line for workers to anonymously report any potential acts of unlawful interference or other violations of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, and timely investigate any allegations.The RRM, developed under the first Trump administration, is an unprecedented trade tool that works to level the playing field for American workers and businesses by addressing weak labor law enforcement in Mexican workplaces that compete in trade with the United States.  BackgroundThe United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On July 29, 2025, the ILC received an RRM petition from a group of former and current Alimentos Grole workers affiliated with SITIES, a Mexican labor union. The petition alleged that Alimentos Grole had violated workers’ rights by threatening and dismissing workers to discourage union activity and by forming and promoting a company-aligned internal union. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days. The ILC determined that there was sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms. As a result, on August 28, 2025, the United States submitted a request that Mexico review the matter. Mexico agreed to conduct a review and, on October 10, 2025, concluded a denial of the rights had occurred at the facility. Subsequently, the United States and Mexico agreed on a course of remediation. The United States closely monitored compliance with the course of remediation and has concluded the situation to have been remedied. Read the full course of remediation here.Read an unofficial courtesy Spanish translation of the full course of remediation here.A copy of the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury can be found here.Learn more about the department’s work to make global competition fair for American workers.

In the week ending October 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 189,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 194,000 to 195,000. The 4-week moving average was 194,750, a decrease of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 196,750 to 197,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that Registered Apprenticeship sponsors can begin applying for direct payments of up to $6,000 per apprentice through the Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program. The opening of applications follows President Trump’s announcement on Friday in Daytona Beach, Florida, of the department’s $40 million investment, led by the Florida Department of Commerce, to expand Registered Apprenticeships in shipbuilding and the defense industrial base, which is projected to lead to nearly 10,000 new apprentices over the next four years. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all available funds have been obligated. To date, the department has invested nearly $200 million in pay-for-performance incentive funds.In July, the department awarded nearly $162 million to five organizations to lead nationwide training programs for thousands of Americans seeking jobs in priority industry sectors including shipbuilding and the defense industrial base, super intelligence, semiconductor and nuclear energy infrastructure, telecommunications, information technology, and transportation. The funding will help employers hire and retain new apprentices, reduce barriers that limit employer participation, and fill in-demand jobs in these industries. The Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program builds on the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, a $35.8 million cooperative agreement established to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing nationwide. During a visit to Florida today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling joined Rep. Brian Mast, Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack, and Florida Commerce Deputy Secretary of Economic Development Jason Mahon to highlight the opening of applications and the positive impact these grants will have on Florida’s workforce.“The Trump Administration is committed to rapidly expanding Registered Apprenticeships as a core strategy to fill jobs in high-growth, high-demand industries,” said Secretary Sonderling. “Delivering direct support to employers and other Registered Apprenticeship program sponsors is the fastest way to help skilled Americans enter the workforce while also strengthening our nation’s economy.”Here’s how each active incentive fund supports training and employment opportunities:American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund – The Arkansas Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Services, administers this $35.8 million fund to support Registered Apprenticeships in advanced manufacturing. Sponsors with eligible occupations may receive up to $3,500 per new apprentice, with funding available for up to 200 apprentices per sponsor. Sponsors are required to provide employers with at least 90% of the total incentive fund payment they receive. Information Technology Apprenticeship Incentive Fund – The Trustees of Clark University administer this $27 million fund to support Registered Apprenticeships in information technology occupations. Sponsors with eligible occupations may receive a one-time incentive payment of $6,000 for each eligible new apprentice who remains employed for at least 90 days. Shipbuilding and Defense Industrial Base Apprenticeship Incentive Fund – The Florida Department of Commerce administers this $40 million fund to support Registered Apprenticeships in occupations tied to shipbuilding and the defense industrial base. Sponsors with eligible occupations may receive a baseline payment of $2,000 for each new apprentice who remains employed for at least 90 days, with payments of up to $6,000 available to Registered Apprenticeship sponsors that meet at least one strategic priority area.Super Intelligence, Semiconductor, and Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Apprenticeship Incentive Fund – Jobs for the Future Inc. administers this $40 million fund, which supports Registered Apprenticeships in super intelligence, data centers, semiconductor fabrication, nuclear energy infrastructure, and quantum-related fields. Sponsors with eligible occupations may receive up to $6,000 per eligible new apprentice, paid in two installments: $3,750 after 90 days of retention, and $2,250 upon program completion or after 12 months, whichever occurs first. Telecommunication Apprenticeship Incentive Fund – The Wireless Infrastructure Association administers this $29.9 million fund to support Registered Apprenticeships in telecommunications occupations. Sponsors with eligible occupations may receive up to $6,000 per eligible new apprentice across three milestones: $1,500 after 90 days of retention, $2,500 upon completion of related technical instruction, and $2,000 upon successful completion of the program.Transportation Automotive Technician Apprenticeship Incentive Fund – The ASE Education Foundation administers this $25 million fund to support Registered Apprenticeships for automotive and truck service technicians. Sponsors with eligible occupations may receive $3,500 per apprentice, including an initial $2,500 payment at the 90-day retention benchmark and an additional $1,000 payment after nine months.Find out which incentive fund is most appropriate for your skilled workforce development needs.Learn more about the Pay-for-Performance awardees. 

In the week ending October 24, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 194,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 194,000 to 195,000. The 4-week moving average was 196,750, a decrease of 1,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 197,750 to 198,000.